“Pluto's nature is to centralize political and financial power in order to better manage the rogue elements that threaten our collective survival—as in the G20 summit, the first wave of organizing the global economy.”
Reading this phrase, I had to wonder if the “rogue element that threatens our collective survival” is the G20. When we take the Pluto journey into The Underworld, what do we see? Do we see the highest and most beautiful of human creations or the darkest? What does the Pluto archetype show us, when we are in hell, of man’s motivations and desires for power and wealth? The G20 represents the beginning of the complete centralization of power and wealth that the world has ever seen. It is the culmination of planning and expert execution of corporations and the governments they own. And, as history has shown again and again, centralized civilizations always collapse, after they have shown their deepest, darkest horrors.
I have just read HR875 – Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 from the 111th Congress. Its greatest fallacy is that it will make our food safe. It is the mechanism of corporations to further centralize our food supply by use of federal government law and enforcement. Just as governments cannot coerce and mandate volunteerism, it cannot enforce pathogens from cultivating in depleted soil, stinking factory farms and destroyed habitat – all of which the Corporations have created.
So, will you welcome the petty tyrant as he/she comes to your organic farm, your farmers market, your garden in your own back yard to “inspect” it for your own safety? How many will just give up under the weight of stupidity and incompetence, of permits and fines and eat the food provided to them by the corporations………or not provided by the corporations as they deem profitable.
Of all the Acts of Congress, this one scares me the most because we all need safe food for our “collective survival”.

Hey - are you sure that she was born in October? What is your source?
I've been trying to find the birth data (dates) on each of the "Trio" and I thought I came up with Melissa's - 3/13/83 - I've been "fiddlin'" with that one and will have to go back and retract all my "comments." Let me know Please! Thanks.

According to wikipedia Alex Jones birthday is 02/11/74 Dallas TX, time unknown. Most liberal minded people have not heard of him but on the conservative network, he is gaining great popularity. His Aquarius Sun and Jupiter are close to the US moon - he, like Obama, have Mercury square Neptune and he has written a documentary called the Obama Deception that has just been aired - I believe it was 03/15/09.
Per your article - "the triple conjunction in Aquarius indicates the beginning of broad social developments that will likely affect many Americans." I think one of the movements to watch is Alex Jones and his "Infowars" on "Prison Planet".

thanks for jay's chart...now i know why i like him so much...his mars is trine my moon (venus sextile) and his sun trine my uranus, jupiter quincunx my ascendent. also he is inspiring because he does not try to be younger than he is (white hair) yay jay!!

Hi, Michael -
The film you quoted re the need for a world government ("State of the Union" with Spencer Tracy) was, interestingly, released April 30, 1948, when Jupiter opposed Uranus, Saturn squared the nodes and lots of other 'revolutionary/visionary' markers were present. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
State_of_the_Union_(film)[/url]

Tracy probably did not write that speech - the film has four credited writers. Nevertheless...

I agree with comments below by Nancy
and others. Major blame has to go to
the media barons. They had the gall to oust Phil Donohue, one of the BEST, if not the BEST. The same media does not have the guts in their you know what to chuck limbo out of the media outlet TOTALLY? Why
can't they(media), that's my major question and I don't want any lame excuses from the media, please.

do you really think because astrology may explain temper and ugly attempts to ruin lives that it is ok?
this "actor" tried to ruin another life. Ophrah tried to euthanize the poor man who had the nerve to lie on her HER program.
get real this is base behavior this is why we have lessons, progresses and will power - to surmount ego and live among humans.
our job is getting along, not judgment and persecution. And do you really think THIS IS THE FIRST TIME? GET REAL.

Please remember this summer when was Rush -- through his Operation Chaos initiative -- advocated that republicans switch parties and vote for Hillary. His stated intention was for there to be deadlocked chaos worse than 1968, complete with riots, burning cars, and mass arrests. The vote is supposedly sacrosanct in America, what are forefathers fought and died for.
I think Rush's deranged malevolence is more a function of Oxycontin addiction than astrological influence. And this is the new leader of the Republican Party!

I am a Missouri native and Rush is no friend to the natives....and an
embarrassment to his family of attorneys and judges.

It's ok if a family has a loose screw; it's another if the loose screw seems determined to do all the harm he can while he is alive. He is so important he can do hard drugs and get by with it? get serious

and to hope a President fails? didn't we just have that President? at best Rush is gross and very short sighted. The fact that he will remain on the scene does nothing to light up my day.

Autism is not a mental illness and is not considered to be mental illness by the medical community any longer. For more info on autism please go to the DAN organizations (Deafeat Autism Now) website. Chemical toxicities, heavy metals and bacterial/viral/microbial infections, in conjunction with genetic factors are key triggers for autism. Children are rarely born autistic, they become autistic.
Thank you for listening (reading)!

Ehad Barak a rising star? If he is the chief strategist behind the ongoing Gaza military operation, what kinds of people follow him and approve of this? The Israel conflict is so one sided in this country. Thousands of Palestinians civilians are dying – the reason – they are hungry, they are scared, they do not have water and they are fighting to live! Israel took their lands and treated them like dirt. Israel has created a concentration camp for Palestinians in Gaza like the Nazi created a concentration camp for them. I’m sick of the US spending billions to support Israel and their killing machine. And I’m sick of astrology articles that report this without any moral backbone and one sided propaganda. Do you actually think the “stars” are behind this! That Ehad Barak can “lead” Israel to a new “vision”. He has 12th house planets – and none of what is really going on is being told. Just follow the money, not the stars, to understand this genetic massacre and all massacres funded by the US since it's inception. Isn’t there any astrologers that are outraged by this!

Considering Caroline Kennedy's 12th House Sun and Saturn and the fact that she co-authored a book on privacy, I'm surprised she'd want to put herself in the public eye. And if she knows about her 8th House Uranus closely squared by Mars, I'm surprised she'd risk getting -- oh, never mind.

Check out Charles Krauthammer's recent article in which he states, "Given her rather modest achievement, she is trading entirely on pedigree." Furthermore, he reminds us that the Founding Fathers gave a rather firm renunciation of government by pedigree and by inherited aristocracy.

Hey Michael Wolfstar, you know every time you mention the U.S. chart having "Scorpio Rising" I have to comment that it's not true! :-) Hahaha. It has Gemini Rising. Always did, always will.

You might take a look at it again, regarding your comments on Chiron and Dracula and the U.S. Ascendant; and, instead of the Ascendant, look at the U.S. Venus in Cancer, regarding what the U.S. *loves* or is fascinated with.

Dracula may be the most known, but it's not the first vampire novel. Bram Stoker was influenced by an earlier work entitled Vampyre. Before that, it was word-of-mouth stories of the bloodsuckers.

Pluto rules vampires (and a lot of horror creatures) - the undead, and all. Zombies. Those that are 'half' dead, half alive (i.e., Pluto spending half the time in the dark, etc.). Silver, of course, is ruled by the Moon, which figures into the Werewolf legends. Mars rules dogs and wolves, so a Moon-Mars aspect would probably be present in the charts of those who existed with diseases resembling such.

great all 3 sections. But the one about Dracula is right on. Another thing about the story their is some thought that the duke had a rare disease heridaterry called I am not sure I can spell it but it maybe spelled porforia. This disease is made worse by sunlight. Therefore the not going out in the daylight. It can effect most any part of the body, if the skin it produces ugly scab like bumps. I am not sure but there is something that blood transfusions may help. There fore chiron is right on. It is hard to diagnose and usually misdiagnosed as another disease unless you happen to find a doctor who is familar with the disease in this way of looking at it also.

And what of Vesta's close proximity to Ceres, which is widely conjunct it? That creates an even more nurturing personality. Since both Ceres and Vesta are in Obama's 3rd house, I would expect him to make frequent public addresses that calm the jangled nerves of the public in this economic crisis.

Also, has anyone noticed that Obama's sun is conjunct Transpluto with an orb of 2 degrees? Many writers suggest that Transpluto adds Virgoan traits such as perfectionism and fastidiousness. With Obama's often carefully measured and deliberative way of speaking (chosing the right words), I often get more of a Virgo feeling from him than a Leo one. Perhaps we can learn more about Transpluto by looking at Obama's chart. Perhaps Transpluto accounts for certain traits (Leadership, power)that aren't accounted for using other indicators. Or is Transpluto obsolete now that we have discovered a new planet beyond Pluto's orbit? Or are they one in the same???

The Vice Presidential Debate is scheduled to start at 8:00 pm (October 2) when the Moon is at 22º Scorpio and squaring Palin's Aquarius Sun. Over the next hour, the Moon will square her Mars, suggesting that she'll be full of fire and on the attack. Then, during the following few hours, the Moon will square her Saturn (which is conjunct the U.S. Moon) as Americans weigh in on how well she fared.

***

I've been thinking about this and wondering what it could mean for the GOP candidates and for the last 4 to 5 weeks of the election campaign.

I think it may mean that Palin will come off either very well (the electorate will see her as a potentially strong leader in the event that John McCain lapses into some illness) or the result will be devastating to her public image because she'll come on too strong (Trans Moon sq Natal Sun).

Trans Moon sq Saturn usually means, at least for me, hard emotional lessons. Trans Moon sq the US Moon could mean... the country must make a judgment call about the role of women and especially mothers in public life.

If they accept Palin as is, McCain is back in the race in a big way. If not, McCain has only one way to "win" the election - to trash Obama in every conceivable way.

Which allows the country to learn another lesson, and leaves us with another very important choice.

AIG would have been having a problem regardless of the parallels with the Great Depression.

I did several charts: American International Group (6/9/1967, Wilmington, DE, 12 noon) the day of its incorporation of its current (preFed) structure; American Asiatic Underwriters (12/19/1919, Shanghai, China, 8 AM) which was the first company CV Starrfounded; and American International Underwriters (12/2/1926, New York City, NY, 12 noon), CV Starr's first American operation.

All of these charts got hard hits from the outer planets. Pluto especially plays a factor in the 1926, 1967, and 2008 charts as each of these are 41 years apart which is 1/4 of a Pluto transit. Pluto has also been transiting the Sun (26 Sagittarius) of the 1919 chart.

"Only in the Scorpio Rising U.S. horoscope (July 4, 1776; 2:21 pm; Philadelphia) can the astrologer make sense of the current and pending financial crisis. With financially-savvy Scorpio on the Ascendant, four planets reside in the Eighth House of Capital."--Michael Wolfstar, NewsScope September 16th.

The U.S. chart has Gemini rising. Pluto is transiting into the natal 8th House (and Progressed 2nd House) of the U.S. chart. Everything money-related is up for possible destruction, from mortgages, taxes, loans, to how the U.S. 'earns' its money, to the United States economic *security*. Pluto's transit will destroy the tax system as we know it (say bye to the income tax, and the I.R.S. - their hoax and scam will come to light, and it'll be revealed that there is no law in existence that mandates the agency's creation or activities).

Pluto is opposing the U.S. Venus and Jupiter - but is already, via "translation" opposing the Sun. We all get dragged into this. Later, it'll be a real opposition to that Sun. Great monetary challenge for the U.S. government (us).

And yes, I agree... this election looks more and more like another opportunity for the conservative (Saturn) GOP to engage in fraud (Neptune) at the polls (especially in the context of a Saturn ruled Moon in Cap on election day) once they narrow the election to an electric (Uranus) contest in a couple of key locations.

This must be how Rove and his operatives mean to establish and maintain that "permanent Republican majority." By bamboozling the electorate into close contests then stealing votes to seal the deal for themselves. They successfully did it the last two elections and they keep getting better with practice.

VP candidate Sarah Palin presents the Dems with a dangerous challenge as a fake Hillary Clinton with an ease in front of the cameras (Neptune) that Clinton never possessed, who has just as good a hoops game (Pallas influence in the election, with her Mars on the US moon) as Barack Obama.

She could end up the "warrior" president (by ascension) of this country, with few to no credentials to lead it *herself*.

You know, yesterday I was thinking about this election the way it makes most sense to me (looking at the chart for voting day, not the charts of the presumed candidates, not knowing their birth times and thus not being able to make reliable personality based predictions).

One of the sigs I find most telling is that 29d sextile between Mercury (in Libra) and Pluto (in Sag).

After watching Sarah Palin's convention speech and thinking about the *fundamentally feminine* cast of a Venus ruled Mercury, I have to say I think the *female* public speaker in this contest has a slight advantage over even an accomplished male speaker if she can somehow co-opt the women's vote in this election.

Palin is the perfect person to achieve this end for the male dominated GOP, especially of they can pull off the media based slight of hand (Neptune) for which they (Karl Rove especially) have become famous.

I think you're right, Uranus.

I think Sarah Palin, a charismatic female candidate (Venus), secretly guided by one of the most ruthless male strategists (Pallas) in the business, can steal the women's vote from the Dems, and seal this deal for a man who would be otherwise unable to win the 2008 election against a "once in a generation orator".

It will be all about the men (Saturn) who control (Pluto) Palin, but it will *feel* (Venus, Neptune) like it's all about her.

Everybody talks about the Uranus/Saturn opposition that marks election day, but there is little mention of the fact that Venus and the asteroid Pallas Athena are also involved, opposing each other across the Uranus/Saturn axis, thus creating a grand cross.

Since both Venus and Pallas Athena signify feminine energy, it could be argued that McCain's VP pick, Sarah Palin, who personifies the female warrior aspect of Pallas Athena, and is now this election's official torch bearer for women, could dramatically influence the outcome of this election.

On election day, there will probably be a deadlock in votes as signified by the grand cross. This stalemate may reflect a Venus/Pallas struggle between those who embrace the true values and core causes of women's issues (the original Hilary voters), and those who co-opt these ideologies for their own political gain (Sarah Palin and the McCain camp). Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune will also be aspecting portions of the grand cross. The Mars/Neptune square is especially troubling, since it points to possible abuses of the election process.

After viewing the GOP convention last PM, I'd like to offer two revisions on a previous FB post in this column.

First, I believed my own eyes and words when I said I thought Cindy McCain had a problem with the Sarah Palin appointment. Watching some of her interviews and seeing her with Palin at the convention last night has me convinced that she did know about her husband's intention to nominate Palin and she may very well have supported it from the start.

And second, it appears that the GOP did vet Palin sufficient to its own standard, which means I made a spurious accusation to the contrary without sufficient information to back my claim.

Apologies to readers who admire Palin, who did a fine job at the podium last night.

I may disagree with much of what she believes but the woman impresses me as a bright star with a real future in American politics.

And yes, I do think she has what it takes to be nominated, maybe even elected to the presidency.

I always thought it would be the GOP and not the Dems who would put a woman in the highest office of the land. Just my hunch.

Will explain in terms of Michael's astrology writings at another time.

I liked reading your take on McCain's chances in November mostly because it echoes my instinct, which suggests a decisive, surprise win by Barack Obama.

Still, for me to be sure I'm right I'd have to construct an accurate composite for Obama and Biden, who may be the real decider in this election with Pluto transiting by conjunction his Mars. Then compare that to the chart for the day of the election (because that's the day the office is secured, not the day of the inauguration) and compare that to a composite for McCain and Palin.

Given that this is too much work for me (and constantly rectifying multiple charts without clear birth times comes with its own liabilities), I've taken to following the writing of a Black Hole astrologer on this subject.

His name is Alex Miller Mignone.

What I read depresses me. His prediction suggests a win by Obama marred by voter sabotage at the hands of people sympathetic to McCain, which would AGAIN give the GOP the appearance of a mandate they never achieved.

Ref:

http://daykeeperjournal.com/alex2.shtml

In any case, I still believe Sarah Palin is in this race for the duration. If she and McCain win, she could ascend to the presidency... with *no foreign policy experience* as of last week.

Even if she does not become a presidential contender, her future as a rising political star in the USA is assured given the placement of her Saturn and Mars on the US moon.

The Neptune transit to her Sun may only suggest that in *this* election, oil is a major issue, and Palin does strongly support drilling in her home state of Alaska.

The petty current scandals will fade. The need for the US to find a reliable source of fuel to keep its economy afloat... that will not.

It looks to me that the McCain campaign's trajectory to victory in '08 is like the flight of Icarus. The high flying theme and excitement is shown by the Jupiter transits to the GOP Sun, Uranus, and Neptune. But then in late September, transiting Saturn enters the 12th house and opposes the GOP Neptune. The Saturn Neptune transits are in play as well in McCain's chart where transiting Saturn conjoins McCain's Neptune in October (as well as transiting Uranus to natal Saturn this month). Saturn "refines things to their absolute worth and dispenses with false credentials." McCain is banking on the public's perception of him as a maverick to get him into the White House, but his votes in the Senate in the last few years shows otherwise. Saturn tends to unmask and expose lies (Hillary and Bosnia) and it's prominence in the GOP and McCain charts, along with the Uranus transit to McCain's Saturn leads me to think he will lose the election. In addition to the Neptune transit to Palin's Sun, and the seemingly endless litany of scandals she is currently embroiled in, she also has transiting Saturn conjunct her Pluto. The Neptune transit to her Sun can also be read as her being seen as the hope and savior of the party. Today at the GOP convention and among the GOP base, there's an almost manic excitement inspired by her being chosen for VP. However, with her Sun, Mars, Saturn on the US Moon I don't believe she will gain the support of the broader U.S. public. I'll be surprised if she lasts another week.

Sarah's Mars sq Neptune may be a problem but with Saturn sq Neptune she has the internal stability to find way through her troubles with her feet on the ground, rather than succumbing to them.

That's how she manages to keep that huge, problematic family of hers intact.

Any woman who looked carefully at Cindy McCain's face the day her husband introduced his running mate would know she was not at all pleased with this choice. I think Cindy (a seasoned executive herself) has a realistic assessment of Palin's ability to handle high office.

Clearly Palin was not vetted for this job and her nomination was not discussed with the future First Lady. Had that been the case the Palin nomination would have come under much more scrutiny.

Also, Cindy McCain knows her husband's temperament and his weaknesses. The injuncts could mean he's acting from his lesser judgment, thinking it's his greater strength.

Cindy probably knows better.

I don't think John McCain can afford to publicly dump Palin - unless he does so at the GOP convention this week. She's probably in for the next two months, good or for ill.

I still say this will be a man dominant (Saturn/Pluto) election. Palin will make a big splash at first but I still think that Barack Obama will win, especially with Joe Biden at his side.

Yes, Sun/Mars/Saturn conjunction puts the "Barracuda" in Sarah, but the whole conjunction squares Neptune (albeit widely). The squares to Neptune are troublesome, as is the current transit of Neptune to her Sun. With transiting Neptune also making an inconjunct to McCain's Venus, I suspect that he might dump her before the Republican convention ends. There are too many potentially damaging lines of inquiry out there in the press regarding her. Also, McCain's Virgo planets are inconjuncting Palin's Aquarius planets. I'm thinking that the awkwardness displayed by McCain around her at her public unveiling was reflective of that.

Ok so, who has reliable data on Sarah Palin's birth time and location, and how does that affect John McCain's chances in the Pres contest? Would it show in the composite chart if we could erect one? Or can it be found thru a reasonably reliable birth chart?

Esp given that McC introduced her to the world on or near to his solar return?

I am wondering now if the race just turned significantly in his favor.

Palin looks like the Anti Hillary (sexually charismatic, superficially "feminist" trappings but with all those old fashioned feminine values) and seems like a really sharp politician, ie cop opting the Dem agenda via Hillary and Geraldine in her acceptance speech .

As you say, most agree about the 1 Oct 1949 chart for the PRC, but I have noticed some remarkable transits recently in relation to the 21 Sept 1949 chart when Mao proclaimed the Republic. The May 12, 2008 earthquake shows t.Jupiter at 22 Capricorn 21 exact to the minute conjunct the Jupiter of the 21 sept 49 chart.
The Opening Ceremony of the Olympics shows t. Saturn at 8 Virgo 37 conjunct the Moon of the Sept chart ( 8 Virgo 54)on the DSC as the ceremony began.

I believe this story came out on Monday, August 5, about Ron Suskind reporting that the Bush administration had ordered the CIA to forge a letter from the head of Iraqi intelligence connecting Iraq to the 9/11 hijackers. I read that the eclipse falls on the ascendant in the D.C. chart. Suskind's two sources are reported to be under great pressure from the White House to recant which apparently they've done. But Suskind this morning indicated he has the sources on tape. Any connection with the eclipse and the DC chart?

P.S. It is not possible for Senator McCain to be elected this year. :)

Eye AM:

Not if you listen to Ray Merriman in the Market Watch column this week. He's bending over backwards to suggest that McCain will beat Obama on the basis of "experience" in the context of the unusual - JupMoon in Cap sx/trines Saturn/Uranus.

I still say this is serious if progressive Obama's to lose and he won't: not without a vicious fight (it starts now, read the news) and not without paying a personal price, but I truly think he'll win.

I don't think HRC ever stood a chance (not to say her supporters won't raise their own "cain" at the convention this month).

Dear Sirs..
I'm a venezuelan astrology student for life now.... As venezuelan I folllow sometimes national television from my country ... Yesterday as you know it was Hugo CHavez birthday... He stated at one of his everlasting speaches on TV that according to "his birth certificate and corrobarated by his Mother he was born at 4:OO am in Sabaneta on JUly 28 1954.. Now you have his full data ...to study this dictator who has buried our democracy.. Regards Elisa

There was, in fact, a major development in the Ramsey murder case. John Ramsey returned to Boulder on July 9 to receive a full apology from prosecutors and a public exoneration of any involvement in the slaying of 6-year-old JonBenet. John Ramsey (b. Dec. 7, 1943) has the August 1 solar eclipse (9 Leo) landing right on his NN-PL conjunction. (BTW, Senator John Kerry, born a few days later, will also have his NN-PL conjunction triggered by this eclipse.)

Michael, I'm reminded of 1932, the Uranus/Pluto and Saturn/Pluto cycles being operative. Both of which relate to 2008-2011, although Saturn Pluto begins in November. The volatility in the markets we've been seeing for months also ties in with the Saturn Uranus opposition. 1932 again if I recall correctly. It looks to me like we're going to see a deepening of the bear, not a bottoming and recovery in the near term. Although we may not have technically entered a bear market until now with the 20 point drop in the Dow, the economy, the job market and of course the real estate market have been bad for a months. regards, Helena

I didn't know Obama actually compared himself to Lincoln. I, myself, for some inexplicable reason, have kept thinking of Lincoln when seeing Obama. Weird.

BARAC(k) can be found in the name Abraham Lincoln (minus the 'k', of course). OBAMA can be found in the name Abraham Lincoln. (just not both at the same time).

Lincoln once chartered a ferry called The Talisman. Stephen King's The Talisman movie (mini-series) is due out in 2009. ;-) Related more to semiotics, perhaps, than astrology, but interesting nonetheless.

Also of interest is the fact Obama is LEO, on the same pole as Lincoln, an AQUARIUS (i.e., reflective influences).

Uranus12, you commented "This chart just doesn't look like that of a great leader or even someone who can instill confidence in his ability to lead...."

With respect, neither Lincoln nor Reagan ('a Hollywood ACTOR as President...!!??') whose charts both resonate to Obama's (noted below here) were burdened with high expectations for leadership before they assumed office. And yet they both left enduring legacies of greatness.

To the writer below, there is no T-square between saturn, mercury and neptune in Obama's chart. The orbs are too wide.

I agree with the other writer below who insists on a Scorpio rising chart. This chart just doesn't look like that of a great leader or even someone who can instill confidence in his ability to lead. And, aside from the mercury/jupiter opposition, I'm not seeing much of Obama's great gifts of oratory in this chart. I urge our fellow astrologers to thoroughly vet this chart for accuracy.

Further to my note below about Obama's Reaganesque ascendant, his correct chart now places his 28.53 Scorpio midheaven conjunct Abraham Lincoln's 26.19 Scorp ascendant. And Obama's 18.03 Aquarius ascendant is also widely conjunct Lincoln's 23.13 AQ sun. So again, his visionary approach to America's future resonates to echoes of other revered American presidents. He does indeed express American hopes reather than fears.

Just a question, how come your chart diagram does not show the T-square between Saturn - Mercury - Neptune (saturn opposite mercury both square neptune in the 9th) that the other online sites are showing?

as a new student to astrology I would like to know why this was omitted.

I note that Obama's Aquarian ascendant is conjunct Ronald Reagan's 16.31 Aq sun. That could give his "Change" campaign an unexpected resonance to the Gipper's "It's Morning in America" call, and lend Obama hidden popularity among American traditionalists.(That ol' Jupiter in the twelfth.) Obama's Father's Day speech indeed provided a fine echo of a traditional American moment in its finest form.

I beg to differ with you. I am certain that Obama's ascendant is scorpio and his I.C. Aquarius. All you have to do it look at him and see the Scorpian(1st hse)! The women are saying he's the "sexist" man alive! They 'see' him as 'sexy'. Then Leo on the M.C.! Showing his drive to be at the top of the "mountain" and in the spotlight in his career. He is arrogant and vain (10th), ruthless and intense (1st). So, you didn't say 'where' then he was born. I think my analysis says he 'was' born in Kenya. I also surmise that you have so cleverly "reversed" his chart! I would appreciate feelback and also "proof" of his birth certificate!!

I'm still examining this chart, but struggling to find the great leader here. I'd love to see another Obama article that speaks to this question: Does Obama have what it takes to lead this country in the right direction?

In that same issue of Dell Horoscope I noted a review for a new book about Cherokee Astrology. From the article, I learned that Cherokee people called Sirius the Wolf Star, as did the Chinese and the Egyptians.

I wondered if this figured into the name you use for the STarIQ website?

I just got my copy of Dell Horoscope and dived into your article about the upcoming election. Thanks for your wonderful discussion about all three candidates, supposedly two now that Clinton has publicly given her support to Obama.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in August. Apparently Clinton "suspended" her campaign rather than "withdrawing" her candidacy, leaving her delegates to vote for her at the convention in August "so her daughter can see them call her name" on the roll.

Your detailed discussion on the Clinton marriage composite chart tells me there may still be a serious challenge to Obama at that convention, and your article suggests that Al Gore may have a hand in settling it.

I continue to think the Kennedys are truly "much on [Hilary's] mind these days", with her concession appearing so close to the anniversary of Bobby's death.

I wonder how well she knows Obama is at real risk of an attempt on his life, and if she thinks about what that might mean for her future as an American politician.

I continue to believe that on the day of *the election*, not the inauguration, Obama reflects the mood of the time more than she or John McCain, and will win the election based on that fact.

He makes sense to me as the culminating voice of the Pluto in Sagittarius era. John McCain does not, though he and HRC may have a bright future together it the Senate.

I agree with Wolfstar that this chart can't be correct. It just strikes a dumb note with me. The original chart as shown on StarIQ had his Jupiter/Saturn conjunction in the 3rd house, which showed is great oratory skills. The 10th house had his pluto & uranus there with uranus conjunct the midheaven. This conjunction speaks directly to the public perception of Obama as an agent of change. And, as evidenced by the Reverend Wright controversy, it also reveals that there will can be calamities surrounding his reputation. Also, Obama has a dark, brooding rather serious demeanor that fits well with a Scorpio ascendent. The cast of Saturday Night Live made fun of Obama by exagerating this aspect of his personality.

Obama has Aquarius Rising, which is Trine to the Gemini Ascendant of the U.S. chart.

McCain won't be elected President, and Hillary Clinton can never be elected President (if she becomes President, it'll be by succession).

**

EyeAM makes an interesting point with regard to the ascendants of the candidates. If Michael's Scorpionic America chart is in error, EyeAm's assessment has merit for an Obama win the in the election.

But if the Scorpio rising chart is the true one for the USA, I can see why Michael favored and may continue to favor Clinton with her Mars in Leo, and her strong Pallas (the strategizer) placement.

So why is Clinton doing so poorly on this election, all her mind bending (very Scoprionic I say) math aside?

I think it's because we are in the last, most compelling stages of Pluto in Sagittarius, and the template of Obama's image (Neptune) and skills (Saturn and Mars) reflect that signature perfectly. 29d Libra Sag arguably dominates the election chart if one sees end of sign planets as the ones that express the energy of a sign or house most strongly.

The suggestion that the Clintons (they are a team candidate, period) cannot be (re-)elected interests me, especially when followed by the idea that Hillary could ascend to office by succession.

I wonder how hard she's really thinking about the VP job and those KKK threats to Obama's life, and if her Scorpionic personality might be seeing that as her best chance to become the First Woman President of the USA.

Your article states, "As one correspondent notes, McCain's 11 am birth time means that all three presidential candidates have Scorpio Rising, which seems to validate the Scorpio Rising U.S. horoscope used in this column."

All three candidates do not have Scorpio Rising. Only one candidate (Hillary) has Scorpio Rising. Obama has Aquarius Rising, which is Trine to the Gemini Ascendant of the U.S. chart.

McCain won't be elected President, and Hillary Clinton can never be elected President (if she becomes President, it'll be by succession).

I get it that with these planets a person might see Hillary Clinton competing with some military figure on the health care issue, but really I think this Virgo-Pisces argument will be about service and sacrifice - meaning the Iraq war and its consequences.

If the election does boil down to a referendum on Iraq I see Obama winning, after a lot of mud is thrown, not in a squeaker but by a surprisingly decisive margin.

Nobody can compete with Barack Obama right now when the pressure's on and there's a need for a fast, game changing move in the right place, time and style.

Hillary Clinton will stay in this for as long as she believes she has a role in shaping the platform of the party (her Mars in Leo will demand that of her), but to be honest I don't think she ever had a chance in this election.

It's been Sagittarian glamour boy Barack Obama's to lose from the start, but he won't.

I see the tall, skinny kid with the good hoops game, the big ears, the big speeches and the serious demeanor winning the current primary. I also see him becoming the next, fairly elected President of the United States.

Thanks for the discussion about the upcoming election. I thought I'd mention something I spotted in the chart for the day of the election.

On Nov 4 2008, the Saturn, Mars and Moons all suggest a decidedly masculine, somewhat reserved energy. Seeing Mercury-Pluto Trine in the final degrees of Libra and Sagittarius respectively with Venus in mid Sag sextile to Neptune prompted me to write this in my dairy early in January of 2006:

"The winner of this contest appeals to the population as a great orator, perhaps a once in a generation orator, a serious but magnetic speaker who will prevail in the midst of a vicious Mars-Saturn-Pluto campaign."

At the time, I expected Rudy Guiliani to fill those shoes - conservative, charismatic, etc. If he went up against Hillary Clinton I thought she would lose to him after a major battle for the office.

It's clear to me now that the real victor is Barack Obama. He's the only candidate who can fulfill that 29d Mercury sextile Pluto in the context of a Saturn-Mars-Pluto election with Venus and Neptune sextile, though as you say the Saturn-Uranus opposition speaks to an exciting battle for the final votes.

Have you seen the new issue of Newsweek? The cover reads: "The O Team: Obama has shown he can run a campaign, he'd better get ready for a war." There's one reading of transiting Uranus opposition Mars. His Mars Saturn trine is solid and he has shown its strengths in his campaign. In late June, transiting Mars will be conjunct his Uranus, and in July, transiting Saturn will conjoin natal Pluto, so it looks like it will be a titanic battle with down and dirty tactics.

It's a privilege watching history in the making with the perspective of astrology. It'll be interesting to see how all these transits play out and what happens with the Uranus opposition once the Jupiter transit to Barack's Mars recedes.

My understanding is that the time of birth is unknown. So, we don't actually know what Barack's 12th house is. As your post is dated May 6th, when you say things are moving in Hillary's favor, I wonder if you wrote this before the results of Indiana and North Carolina primaries, and before the developments of the last few days.

I'd like to think that the Uranus transit to Barack's Mars speaks to the titanic battle he is in for the Democratic nomination. But, there were bomb threats at I believe three Obama headquarters in Indiana last week. Also, there is the volatile Uranus Pluto, like the 1960's when race issues were also at the forefront...doesn't have to play out the exact same way. I hope not.

Unless Barack goes down in flames or dies, I don't see how Hillary can win the nomination. Barack has now passed her in superdelegates, so by every metric, he is ahead now. Hillary has transiting Uranus conjunct her natal Moon and inconjunct natal Saturn. Transiting Neptune has been in opposition to her Saturn and square Mercury (Bosnia sniper fire?). Seems to me a transit of Uranus in hard aspect to Saturn is shattering, one of the most crisis inducing and stressful transits there is except for a hard Saturn Pluto transit, in my opinion. This one reminds me of the "Tower" in the Tarot. The Republican party's chart had transiting Uranus square its natal Saturn in 2006. They lost both houses and control of Congress.

Do you still think HRC will win the nomination for the DEMs and do you see Jeremiah Wright as the "secret enemy" who will undo Barack Obama? And if so what kind of future do you see for him and for Michelle?

I still think Obama would have made a better president but I am beginning to see your prediction about HRC (for whom I no longer have any respect) coming true.

Not that it pleases me, just that it seems more and more likely.

When I first read your articles I thought you had a personal bias for the Senator With A Million Faces From A Million Places. Now I think you were just reading these people's stars and their chances for the White House run.

Not sure how information about someone's birthday,time, and where that person was born is shared amongst astrologers but if Astrodatabank had this info where Hillary was born at 8:02am instead of 8:00am way back in 2003 then why did it take them this long to divulge that and why now?? Another thing, what or who are the forces/people that are behind Obama's ascencion? He basically comes from unknown to very popular very fast and he must have had help to get where he is today. So, if that could be found out it would most likely open a lot of eyes whether good or bad. Thanks.

OMG !!
The upcoming Solor Eclispe in 2 degrees away from Barack Obama's Sun and the Lunar one following is colose to his south Node. Being a Sun Cancer and going thru the eclispe cylces and what the wraught , I mean brought, what do you see for Barack and what is the interpetation of Lunar Eclispe on South Node?

It is a great column thank you,however Hillary Clinton's birth time looks wrong:where does it come from?
All those planets in the 12th house ,or the Moon in the 4th are not reflecting Hillary's energy.
I have seen a more plausible chart with Uranus rising in Gemini --great public speaking on television--an important Moon on the last minutes of Pisces therefore practically into Aries in the 10th house --reflecting fiery go-get-it energy--perfectly trining Jupiter in the 6th house of healthplans and work work work-
It is important for the Astrological community
to have the reference for the charts you are using.
Astrodatabank has another chart with comments about HIllary's birthdata.
Thank you for your kind attention
regards
Teresa Powers

I hardly think McCain has any chance at all; his natal Mercury in 2-degrees of Libra, 12th house will be squared once transit Pluto hits one
degree of Capricorn. That's it folks! He has too much baggage and would make George W. Bush look like
Ghandi!!!

We should keep in mind astrology related to even the most basic stories relating to bin Laden, Iraq and many other issues lose accuracy because the govt. is so steep in lies. This holds true for the mainstream media, owned by the Military Industrial Complex and are walk in step with govt also.

Perter E asks about daylight savings time in Hawaii, and if that might change Obama's Ascendant. From infoplease: "Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii and the territories of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa are the only places in the U.S. that do not observe DST but instead stay on 'standard time' all year long."

Patrick asks about the time given in NewsScope for Pakistan's birth. It's rectified, based on an approximate time of 9:15 am to 9:30 am for when Lord Mountbatten handed over sovereignty. For a full explanation, please visit www.neptunecafe.com/pakistan.html

After seeing Brad Pitt on the Charlie Rose Show, PBS, yesterday, December 18, 2007, I searched for and found this article about the actor. As I looked at the horoscope presented, I was reminded that he has "a house builder" indicator, in his chart.
My judgment relates to the mars steelier in Capricorn. I have observed this phenom in four other nativities, including one woman.
(I am only a student stargazer)
A cursory look at the chart shows this stellium is presently being activated by the planets, Jupiter and Pluto.
I am persuaded that Pitt's efforts in house construction/ home building in New Orleans will be as much a part of his legacy as acting. And, certainly more meaningful than his acting to the residents of New Orleans and likely to other inhabitants of this world globe, as well. How exciting this will be to watch.
See http://www.makeitrightnola.org/

Your mention of oil's quadrupling in price 1972-1975 seems trivial as a clue to what the Pluto opposition may bring. During those years we saw the end of the Vietnam War and also the end of Nixon's (Capricorn) rule (Watergate-Cancer). So cardinal new beginnings and Earth/Water re-balancing; the end of the Iraq War and ...?

Thank you, Michael, for finally including the astonishingly popular Ron Paul in your analysis. The "Thomas Jefferson of our day" is #1 with We the People -- check the stats at www.meeetup.com for some evidence.

The day before this column came out Ron Paul hauled in a record-breaking $4.3 million from his supporters. Next month's powerful Jupiter-Pluto conjunction will closely trine his Leo Sun, suggesting further wealth, power and success (just in time for the primary/caucus season). The solar eclipse just after Super Tuesday (Feb. 5) and the exact Saturn-Uranus opposition on Election Day (Nov. 4) portend big surprises. The electorate will be in absolutely no mood for business as usual.

I'm not sure why there are discrepancies between the house placements mentioned in the analysis and those shown in the chart provided. For example, the analysis says that Bhutto's chart ruler (Saturn) falls in her 10th house, yet the chart shows it to be in her 9th. The text also refers to her 7th house Mars, yet the chart shows Mars in her 6th. And it says that transiting Pluto is about to emerge from her 12th house, yet it won't actually reach her Ascendant until February of 2012.

Nonetheless, I thank you for your ever-insightful analyses. They are a big and important part of my continuing education in astrology.

Pretty good astrological take here, though I'd add the miraculously small toll of dead and injured indicated by chart ruler Jupiter in the 12th and exactly trine Sun in 8th -- both in their signs of rulership.
Two points of clarification are in order, however: the bridge was entirely within the city of Minneapolis, and highway 35W does not connect Minneapolis with St. Paul. Also, St. Paul is to host the Republican convention in 2008.
Today's local news (8/8/07) includes a story on St. Paul's most-used bridge being in a worse state of deterioration than the one that collapsed.

First, quoting the latest Newscope article, "Transiting Neptune is now forming a close trine to the U.S. Mars and a quincunx to the U.S. Neptune, activating this natal potential."

I have to say the number one rule in astrology: If it's not in the index, it's not in the book. If it's not in the (natal) index, it's not in the book (of life) for that entity.

Thus, the United States will *not* feel--on a personal level--that Trine between Transiting Neptune (in Aquarius) and Natal Mars (in Gemini). This is because the U.S. has a natal Square between Neptune and Mars, playing out being 22-degrees Virgo (for Neptune) and 20-degrees Gemini (for Mars). Think Soldiers/War and Oil, right now.

Mars transiting Gemini, however, will eventually Square the U.S. natal Neptune. And the U.S. *will* feel that one, adversely. Should kick in about 14-degrees Gemini. So we're looking at something like August/September 2007 for some bad military news.

Also, Mars entering Gemini is going to almost immediately Square President Bush's natal Mars, and then Conjunct his natal Uranus. Bush has a natal Mars Square Uranus (Virgo and Gemini, respectively), and that is already being touched-off by the transit of Uranus in Pisces. So, it's going to be triggered...doubly-so...again, thanks to Mars in Gemini. Coming up shortly.

Could you pls do a blurb on Vitter's chart. I looked to see if you did and i didn't find one. He is May 3, 1956 New Orleans, La. time unknown. He has Saturn approching his node at 3 degrees virgo and other realities. Thanks so much.

Wow. What an intriguing chart for a Presidential candidate. While my chart for the United States has an 18-degrees Aquarius Moon in the 10th House, I do agree with this article that Bloomberg's Sun and Moon (and Mercury, with Venus in tow) conjuncts the U.S. Moon; and that he'll have an instant rapport with the American people.

His words will be sweet music to the ears of the populace, so long as he stays on the humane (Aquarian) side and is himself. He can be a fighter against corruption (if he utilizes his Venus against Pluto). More specifically, he could make major waves if he launched a campaign relating to equality versus 'crippling corruption' (Chiron conjunct Pluto).

He does have some challenges (from Uranus, Saturn and Mars--though Saturn and Mars afflict less when conjuncting.

I read this chart as him having fundamental differences with Republicans (Mercury Square Mars--which also makes him a bit combative and something of a hothead for issues); and more kinship with Democrats (Venus/Mercury Trine Jupiter). I'd see him as more a liberal, possibly suited for Libertarian--but we see he's definitely Independent. So much Aquarius. Very wealthy (Moon's North Node in 2nd House; Jupiter in 10th).

I think he stands a chance of being more important in the election than, say, McCain or even Guliani. If he opposed anything hinting of corruption with regard to Hillary, sparks could fly.

Paris is in no danger of psychological breakdown. She has Pluto strong, angular, and rising, TRINE to her Mercury and Sun. Wherever she goes, she will make a profound mark upon anyone she meets or corresponds with. Her Self (Sun) and words/communication (Mercury) are well-fortified to that Pluto, and also 3rd H. Neptune (planet of faith and spirituality).

Vladimir Putin is very dangerous, even murderous. Capable of murdering, like with poison (Neptune). His 12th H. Sun conjuncts Saturn, planet of death. Saturn is exalted in Libra (incidentally, like the U.S. Saturn), and Venus rises in Scorpio, with Pluto elevated to the MID (if this chart is correct). Pluto conjuncts the Saturn-like South Node. The man's fate is death and destruction. Ultimately deceptive and ensnaring--if not others, then it shall be himself who is done-in.

Dear Michael
I always look forward to your weekly newscopes. Very interesting topical and educational, for me. Was particularly interested in Angela Merckels chart as it is almost a copy of my own [born 3 days earlier] Just wanted to point out that the chart gives a birth date of 15th July and not 17th which of course changes the moon to Capricorn. Kind regards,

I was also born May 10, 1963, at 6:10 a.m. in Grosse Pointe, MI. It's funny that when I first read about this woman, I felt nothing but sympathy for her; she's obviously had a psychological break. How is it, though, that the day she went on her odyssey, I had a normal, boring day? Does birth time and place really have that much impact?

"This degree is highly significant, since it's also the location of Barack Obama's Pluto, the ruler of his horoscope." Would you mind sharing Obama's birth data. I have been unable to find the time of birth. Thanks

News today that Baker wants to postpone US withdrawal from Iraq-not surprising in view of fact that he is on the Board of Carlyle-a most major US/World Defense Contractor Corp.
He, BFEE, Cheney (Halliburton) etc. daily gorge themselves on blood profiteering on the lives of innocent Iraqis & US troops.

Baker-Bot, Baker's law firm, is mercilessly defending the Saudis against the 9/11 widows law suits!! He is at the top of the Illuminati/Reptilian pyramid with Poppy and the world's upper $$1% .(As is Rumsfeld & Robert Gates).

Two week delay on this sorry, but just noticed OB's Neptune is exactly conjunct the USA rising. Would that add to the deception theme as noted in the feedback email from Seth of 11/2/06?
Also, Laura Bush's Jupiter is also exactly conjunct the USA rising. Absoutely amazing.

So what is one to make of Pluto's demotion as a planet in terms of its meaning to our culture and to astrology in general? I have some thoughts on this, but but am not attached to any of them:

As the demotion is timed with Pluto's nearing capricorn, Saturn's restrictiveness could possibly work to repress our conscious awareness that the Pluto principal even exists as an essential archetype in our collective unconscious.

The suppression of the Pluto principal in our conscious awareness enables powerful political forces to subvert the will of the people through the use of brute force, ruthless tactics and covert machinations. When the Pluto principal is suppressed, people may no longer suspect the worst from their governments and their leaders.

I find it interesting that the demotion of Pluto as a planet comes in the midst of the media hysteria surrounding terrorist plots and the Jonbenet sex/murder/pedophilia mystery...Even more fascinating that Pluto loses its luster before the congressional election this November. Just in time to crank up those electronic voting machines without having to fear that they might default to the wrong candidate!

Yes, that's a mighty volatile, yet befuddled mercury, and it also rules Mel's 3rd house and is tied by aspect to his moon.

His Jupiter/Neptune midpoint conjuncts his moon (chart ruler), which confers a religious zeal and sense of mission, fueled by alcohol. Interesting that is Sun receives no major aspects with other planets - what does this say about the real nature of the relationship Mel had with his father (a holocaust denier) whom he seems to have worshipped?

Mel Gibson's "slip of the lip", look at his Mercury opposite his Uranus tied in with both squaring his Neptune. Here is the spiritual searching he does, plus in fixed signs for his Saturn square his Pluto is the dogged determinism to fix answers. He probably had a mentally strong negative dominance by a parent when young (Pluto sq. Saturn). I think the 6 degree orb for adding Mars to this mix is too much for a strong impact. It's likely he had strong discussions at his party about current events in Lebanon, and spoke out in his inebriated state, with mutable MC he holds dual opinions.

I really have enjoyed reading your takes on situations. First of all, I am a real beginner astrologer, soaking up what I can. Your descriptions such as "First, her Venus is angular (being conjunct the fourth house cusp)," as in the story about Pamela Anderson are so helpful and so sound that it really makes sense. What a great author you are.
Thank you for your insights. You are so right on most of the time. You make this look like a science.
Keep up the great work.

Take a look at the Cancer Ingress. If I did it right it has a definite T Sq and with chiron a grand cross exact. Also has a wide yod to focal Pluto. Also T Sq Sun to Nodes. Jupiter leg of 1st T Square is on Asc. From posts seems Mayan astrologers think something going on in New York ? Would love to see what you get from this chart that will define the summar.

The comments below by iam2000 support my point per my previous email regarding how the debate over the validity of any given version of the U.S. chart muddies the waters when it comes to timing and prediction of current events.

According to the U.S. Gemini Rising chart that I've seen (7 degrees rising), Saturn is currently inconjunct that chart's ascendant, so there is a transiting Saturn aspect to the U.S. ascendant in BOTH those charts (although the square is stronger).

I must say, however, that Wolfstar's article supporting the Scorpio rising chart is compelling in terms of U.S. symbols (eagle, etc.) I, myself, cannot decide - what one chart has, another seems to lack. I think that the US has a strong Uranian vibe in its iconography (freedom, invention, innovation,)that is not adequately expressed in the Scorpio rising chart.

I have to respond again: the U.S. Rising Sign is not Scorpio, but is in fact Gemini.

The article here talks about a Saturn Square to the (Scorpio) Ascendant, but I have to say that U.S. *employees* are ruled by the 6th House, where truly Scorpio sits, intercepted. This is in the Gemini Rising Chart.

And when the attacks on September 11th, 2001 happened, it was like a 'slap in the face' for the U.S., which saw the Moon Transiting its real First House, and conjuncting its Mars in Gemini. Two slaps in the face, basically (Gemini twins, you know).

Moon is at the MIDHEAVEN of the Gemini Rising Chart. The *business* of the nation is a government (Sun) of the people. Moon rules Cancer, the sign the 2nd House Sun is in. Venus and Jupiter at the 2nd House, indicating a wealthy nation.

Dig those crazy zero degree, cardinal point angles! What better expression could there be of a famous child, so greatly anticipated by the world at large?

Because the 3rd house ruler (venus) is squaring mars, I see possible strife between the naturally conceived Shiloh and her adopted siblings as a result of competition between them. This is backed up by the 3rd house mercury in gemini being squared by Uranus in the 12th.

There is a preponderance of masculine energy in this chart - Much like Angelina herself, this girl may end up playing the strong superhero, or crossing gender/sexual lines and roles. Despite her obsessive/compulsive nature (venus/mars/pluto/ceres)her Sun/Saturn sextile should help to groud her a bit.

Wolfstar states with an air of some confidence that Saturn will be squaring the U.S. ascendant, despite the fact that every version of the U.S. chart is hypothetical at best, and that the proposed ascendent of any such chart is the least reliable of indicators.

Proponents of any particular version of the U.S. chart have been able to cite the validity of any number of transits that coincide with events proving their case for upholding the validity of that chart.

Therefore, as Saturn squares the scorpio rising chart in mid-June, this transit may be considered an acid test for the validity of this chart. National scandal and disgrace resulting from such a transit must result on a sweeping scale, and should be examined separately from events resulting from the Saturn transits to Bush's chart (a difficult task).

The Neptune retrograde mentioned in the article may also have to do with the recent widening of news coverage of the massacre of innocent Iraqis by U.S. troops - an event that our charming mainstream media has been suppressing until now.

When the news of the McCartney-Mills split hit the media, I remembered an article you did on their union in 2002 stating the marriage would not last more than four years. The NewsScope 6/18/02 link you listed spoke of their connections. I searched the archives but could not find the article. Help! Wolfstar, did you write such an article or am I dreaming? Best wishes for continued success.

The article's description of current astrological indicators linking up with the stock market crash of 1987 fits perfectly with information I recently heard on the radio just a few days ago.

The commentator said that present economic conditions are eerily similar to those present in 1987 that foreshadowed that stock market crash. First, there was a real estate bubble about to burst. Second, we were in an inflationary period. Third...I can't seem to remember the third...perhaps it was high gas prices or the condition of the U.S. Dollar...darn - the devil is in the details. I just remember feeling chills up my spine when I heard it.

However, what's more important is that it's being reported in the media at all, and that the current planetary positions not only align with the media's message, but link up with 1987 crash. Great stuff! Does that mean I should start selling off my portfolio?

This is more of a question that I'd like to see addressed. It seems that there are public protests worldwide with seemingly similar themes--haves and havenots. It is happening in France and England as well as here. It makes sense that Saturn would be involved in that there are those wanting to hold on to whatever status quo is involved. I would think that Uranus would have something to do with it too as it involves "the masses". How does Neptune fit in?

Nice analysis of the chart of the supposed Mr. Big of Al Queda in Iraq, but what about the bombing compared to the chart of Al Queda itself? You've used it before to predict from. With all the misinformation in the world today surely that would have been the better chart to look at to ascertain if it was really A. Q. in the first place or more US propaganda.

the cartoons done by the Danish press, seem to have lit a bonfire with Muslims aaround the world. Apparently it is alright for Arabs and others to do cartoons about Christians and Jews. This appears to be an important ongoing event in the world. It would be nice to see a comment on the situation. Thank you

I think the violent global reaction to the publishing of the "blasphemous" caricature of the prophet, Mohammed can be explained by more than just the Jupiter-Neptune square.

Using modern rulerships, Jupiter is in mutual reception with Pluto and Neptune is in mutual reception with Uranus. Therefore, by mutual reception, the square between Jupiter and Neptune is drawing in the powerful energies of Uranus and Pluto. In fact, it could possibly be stated that by mutual reception, Jupiter is squaring Uranus, and Neptune is squaring Pluto. The energy of Pluto conjunct the galactic center infuses all these connected planetary energies with far-reaching, global significance.

Since modern civilation has yet to witness a Pluto-Neptune square, we might currently be witnessing a preview of coming attractions courtesy of the mutual reception.

Since mutual receptions represent planetary energies that operate in harmony, there may be some positive re-structuring resulting from all the turmoil and chaos. The election of Hamas is one example - while it was received initially with stunned surprise and trepidation, media pundits have been re-framing it as a potentially positive development.

Given the opposition of transiting Uranus to Bush's natal Mars (which rules his midheaven/status), as well as the conjunction of transiting Saturn to his ascendant at the same time, I was expecting a more dramatic release of energy casting his presidency in a negative light. These transits coincided with his State of the Union address, yet the reviews of the address in the media were decidedly mixed - no major blunders. No major revelations regarding the NSA spying on Americans or any other of many scandals. I, on the other hand, am experiencing Uranus conjunct my Sun (ruling my 6th house), and I've had nothing but job upheavals during this time. Life just isn't fair (very Piscean).

The Democrats (Jupiter) are back, with superhero (Jupiter) power backing them in Washington D.C. (Scorpio). This is the year of Hillary's rise, though not without challenges (fixed sign clashes). She'll find it better to be the attacker than the attacked.

The Democrats (Jupiter) can battle those deceptive (Neptune) about liberty (Aquarius), and cut-to-the-chase (Scorpio) with surgical precision. No more illusions and fantasy about terrorism (it's time Reality gets puffed up to match what has already been puffed up beyond belief).

Saturn transits Bush's Ascendant and Mercury now. Depression, bitterness, arrogance, and obstacles will mark him. Attorney General Gonzales has a stellium in Leo, too; and he'll be rebuked for abuses in 2006.

War with Iran? Possibly, but it won't last, and is more likely to be stopped or delayed with aid of another country. It would be Bush's Alamo in any case.

Secrets will be revealed about money and oil in 2006--as motivations behind the wars. This is the climax to a cycle of war, and the beginning of the end for the military industrial complex.

I think that you are right about the Israeli Elections in 28/3/2006
I am an astrologer, and talked about it in israeli radio, since november 2005.
I will give you here The birth wite the exect time of Netanyau, Ulmert and Amir Peretz, may be you will see who have the good chnce to be the prime minister of Israel.
Natanyau: 21/10/1949
7.08 am ( his father told us)(-3)
jerusalem.
Ulmert:30/9/1945
20.53 pm(-3)
tel aviv
Amir peretz:9/3/1952
5.26 am(-1)
Maroko: 34n01 6w51
I think that you use the wrong day for the Palstien.
Arafat's declartion was in 15.11.1988
01.38 in Alg'ir the sign rising is 11 virgo and you can see now the Uranus working. this chart is working as I see for years.
you can see arafat first coming to Gaza 1.7.1994 and left to france few days befor hid deat 29.10.2004
I hope that this dates will interesting you.
I read your page every week, and i like it very much.
please forgive me for my english spelling I do my best.
Sincerly, Tova.

The Hamas are already dictating women to wear the veil Also separating boys and girls. Women will have a Taliban society again and although many Palestinian women are well educated, they will be held down

In 2005 article on Oprah you wrote about transit Mars in Taurus opposing her natal Mars and a highly charged confrontation...well, well
and here it is. The James Frey
(September 12, 1969) fiasco...she made a fool of herself grilling Frey on her Thursday show and her body language was very, very revealing...
since you use 8-degrees Scorpio Rising for the USA chart, I would think the New Moon on January 29th ought to explorde some hidden myths about Oprah's hidden agenda. The young author should have had a lawyer sitting with him. Oprah kept hitting him with verbal 2 x 4's which was obvious that her ego is way out of control. She is a very
controlling woman (her natal Mars square natal Pluto; and then there's her natal Saturn in 9-degrees Scorpio in square to her Sun-Venus
8-degrees Aquarius...we won't be seeing a charming hostess anytime soon. Stay tuned!!!

Hello, Michael;
Thank you for your interesting insights via the 8 degree Scorpio rising US natal chart. Perhaps we might consider that Saturn in Leo does not "give" (a Jupiterian concept), authority to the govenment, but rather those who constitute the government feel self-justified to act as if it has authority (whether or not it actually does under law), appropiates, and perhaps mis-appropriates authority to itself (ignoring the law, and/or not counting the cost), and later may have to answer for it, and/or pay the price for oversteping its bounds.
Thank you, again;
Karl F Berger of Northridge, CA

I need to correct that last part of my email, it's Uranus going into opposition with his natal Uranus and looks to be close to conjucting with Chiron- right?? What are you thoughts on that part of his chart?

When researching and preparing my book "CHAOS IN AMERICA: An Astrological Study of The Cycle of War", which accurately predicted years before the current 'war on terror', I considered a myriad of charts for what might be the U.S. birthchart. My conclusion was: Gemini Rising (I had three independent sources) .

Only a few degrees of Aries exist in the 12th House, the rest being an intercepted Taurus; and, opposingly, a few degrees of Libra in the 6th House, the rest being an intercepted Scorpio. Consider the *limited* hidden enemies and sickness this produces.

The Moon, ruling the nation's Sun Sign, and relating to *people*, is placed in the 10th House of Fame & Honors and, more importantly, Natural Direction. The natural pursuit of this nation is about people. Mankind. In Aquarius, it’s about Liberating People; Freeing them; allowing them to be Individuals. The people are the boss (10th House). Of the people, by the people, and for the people. It’s the ‘business of the people’ (Sun in 2nd) and we’re the government. The Moon at the MID brings the entity before the public in a big way. RE-PUBLIC.

Second House Venus & Jupiter equals a very wealthy nation. It'll always have money. Look at the charts of rich people--they often have Jupiter in the 2nd, 10th, or 6th (Trine 10th), or in good aspect to the rulers of these houses. Oprah, Britney Spears, Bill Gates... A nation is no different.

just wanted to question you on mercury pluto and the media. in my practice, i haven't noticed this connection at all, but then again i don't have prominent clinets. yet in terms of their careers, they don't seem to be particularly attuned to the media at all. i have the square and am an avid news questioner and sceptic, but then i have 5 planets in gemini. can you explain how you come to the conclusion about mercury and pluto and the media? thanks Catherine

Below pedro is critical of astrology
as being trivia to analyze it for pope.I can understand, being pope follower, astrology is considered pagan, devil etc. My question is why
he is coming to browse in an astrology 'site' on the web, when as
a catholic and non beleiever of astrology, one MUST NOT even look in to astrology or astrology sites, if one is a devout follower

Fascinating article....I notice that the progressed Mars for New Orleans opposes the forthcoming eclipse on 17th October 05, and also George Bush's MC. I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on this. Best wishes, Jane Lyle

Very interesting article.
I wondered if you knew that Robertson, among many vast business dealings, has huge amounts of money invested in Venezualan oil. So if Chavez is rumbling about cutting off oil to the US...?

Yes, isn't it amazing? The newly discovered planet, tentatively called Xena, IS conjunct Lucy Lawless's Sun. According to a Xena ephemeris I saw, Xena was at 11 degrees Aries on LL's birthday. Her Sun is at 8 degres Aries.

Thanks for the informative and interesting info on Angelina Jolie, one of my most favorite Enigma ladies of the big screen. I always love knowing the charts and astrological happenings of famous and interesting and involoved people. Especially eccentric and strong women,like her . Thank you, Ruth

With reference to the recent article here about Bush and his Solar Return chart, isn't it interesting that a day had not even gone by before he had an accident (the one involving him slamming into a policeman).

Mars at the Descendant, as the article mentions, will bring about opponents and problems to his health (opposition to Ascendant, which figures highly in health matters). Mars rules police, guns, bullets, fire, scalds, wounds of a violent nature, bloodshed, cuts, soldiers, military, hatred, anger and war, just to name a few. And it is quite strong in Aries, its home sign.

I look for Bush for eventually anger the military--and wouldn't be surprised if some wound up striking, or striking out in some angry way. This can apply to the top brass (Powell), just as well as the soldier in the field of battle.

In a very real sense, the very 'war' itself will become his enemy, over the next year.

Like the article mentioned, few astrologers would look at the signs and aspects--even those not particularly astrological--and conclude we may see an assassination or jail before his term is up. The evidence seems to be mounting, from studies of Presidential deaths in relation to solar flare cycles (deaths often occurring just before the upswing at the lowest dip--one taking place Fall 2006, btw), to the actual Presidential Death Cycle involving Saturn and Jupiter.

Your profile of Nicole Kidman on the occasion of her role in Bewitched reminded me of another time she played a witch -- in 1998's Practical Magic with co-star Sandra Bullock. Kidman was the social free spirit sister (Gemini sun?) who hooked up with a demonic character (that Uranus/Pluto bit?) and brought him home. Her sister (Bullock) and aunts had to exorcize him. Sounds like art imitating astrology?

The dark moon phase correlating with pregnancy was interesting, thanks for writing about this. Some of the popular literature I've read about this phase describe it as time when one doesn't successfully begin any new "projects" so I was heartened to see that is an oversimplification.

In addition to the cancer midheaven, I notice she has her moon in the 5th house -- worth mentioning in context of her desire for motherhood so much earlier than what's common for celebrity women. (I have cancer rising, with the moon in the 5th house, and I also married young and wanted children immediately, so these position/sign correlations were especially interesting to see). Any further examples of progressed moon phases correlating with real people/life events would be welcome.

Like some people confuse their own lives with others - if writer had bad experience with her husband does not mean Terry in question had a similar experience with her husband.
May be Terry had much better relationship with her husband than with her parents;after all there are innumerable instances of daughter/son
not talking to father/mother or both
but marry very compatible spouses. So
I'm not sure one can categorically
say that only family one is born to
has always the best interests. Also
if starving is not peaceful death, neither is vegetative state for 15 years for the sake of politicans gone
awry with their ultra extremists views like Bin laden with his ultra
religious views is tantamount to Very
satifactory living.

I certainly would not want my fate determined by a "husband" who essentially has already married another woman (after all he has fathered two children with her), one who suddently years after the fact "remembers" Teri would have wanted to have her own life terminated, now that she required a feeding tube (mind you, she was not in a coma, or on life assistance).

No, I would want my biological family -- the ones who knew me from the beginning, the ones whose love for me was unchanged by the fleeting nature of romantically based commitments -- to be the ones making that difficult decision about my fate.

I'm recently divorced, after learning my now ex-husband had been repeatedly unfaithful to me. What if I'd been in an accident in the months before I actually filed for divorce, and then like Teri, he held the power of life or death over me? I shudder at the thought.

Does anyone else find it curious that this woman, who has(had)an eating disorder severe enough to put her in the vegetative state she is in at the present time, should have spent the last 15 years alernating between being force fed through a tube and periodically starved when that source of nourishment denied?

I appreciate Amy's support of StarIQ, however her assertion that Michael WolfStar has misrepresented Ms Schiavo's condition does not appear to be correct. Her husband, physicians and a federal judge support Mr. WolfStar's statement.

I have been a loyal member of StarIQ for many years now, but Michael Wolfstar is making it increasingly difficult to patronize this site. His liberal opinions and misinformation are really skewing his astrology readings in a most annoying way. For example, I have put up with his dislike of the President because he is entitled to his opinion. But today I must finally speak up.

Terri Schiavo IS NOT in a coma. She is awake, conscious and interacting with her visitors; and has been for YEARS. Before you release your articles for publication on the website, please make sure you have your information correct!

I expect a higher degree of professionalism from my colleagues. Please stop providing the skeptics with ammunition to further their premise that astrology is BS.

I feel Martha is a victum of why it's a man's world. However, I feel she will be the phoenix rising from the ashes. She has so many supporters because she never burned her bridges knowing that some day she would have to cross over them again. She is a very wise woman.

In addition to transiting Uranus opposing Bush's natal Mars, transiting Mars will also oppose Bush's natal Mars as it catches up with Uranus on May 14th. This opposition portends the possibility of asassination.

This Mars/Uranus transit jumps out at me, since it will also conjunct my Pisces sun at that time (oh Joy). Since my sun rules my 6th house, this is probably one of the most dangerous transits I'll ever have in my lifetime. As for Bush, Mars rules his 10th house - dangerous for both his status and his life!

Why go to all that trouble? Pitt is a timid Rabbit and Anniston is a dreaded Rooster. The worst kid of match imaginable. I'm amazed they stayed together all that time. Jolie is a Rabbit also-they may not have been having sex (right) but then again you know what rabbits do best.

To whoever thinks that Neptune does not play a part in presidential deaths in office, do the math. Neptune will be either in conjunction, opposition, square, semi sq or sequiquadrate 135 degress or in one case septile. Do the math and Neptune will be aprox. 18 Aq. in each and every case with a very small orb.

Many of those presidents would have lived if they had, had the medical treatments that we have today. This also makes a difference whether we must now just count wounding or sever medical conditions today.

But do the math, it is pure astrology with little to do with any kind of politicals. Neptune is in orb of 18 Aq at this time and will be so for the next 6 months or so.

I have put a lot of study into the astrology of this phenomenen and have so far come up with 7 common patterns in the presidential wounding or death. The most prominant one is the Neptune effect. It is there and you can't make it to away.

We just don't know if this time it will be like all the presidents before Regan or if modern medicine will save the life of Bush.

Another astrologer I know, suggested that we put Regan back in the mix of presidents who did not serve out their term. First he was wounded and second there are some who believe that he was not capable of making presidential decisions toward the end of his term.

It is very helpful to do the wounding chart and death chart, assuming his wounding, played a part in his death in some way. In looking for patterns in the other charts including his helps round out the picture.

Realizing that the Indian "Profit" made a profesy, not a curse, in his second language in which he uses year, where we would use term, it may well be that the wounding and possible consequences of it, actually did meet the paremeter of the profesy.

I have just read an artical on the web, which makes a good case that Bush has a serious heart condition also gives credience to the probablity of the profesy once again coming to pass.

I consider its America's Karma for what we did to the American Indian and will not stop till we have truly admitted and made true amends to the American Indian.

What a joke. President Bush meant time left in office as in there is so much that he wants to get done and only 3 years left to do it.

Reading how pot-smoking, Democrat/Liberal Astrologers think and talk about President Bush and Republicans is funny, but it's not real Astrology. This reads more like some wet-dream from Democrat/Liberal Astrologers that President Bush dies while in office. It comes off as being from sore losers about the election. The same election that these Democrat/Liberal Astrologer groups like StarIQ.com published article after article about how John Kerry was going to be the next President and how the stars showed it.

I usually like your stuff, but I find your assertion that Reagan's astrologer (Joan Quigley) saved him from the presidential death cycle rather ludicrous. Your explanation of this phenomena seems rather thin, almost vacant. You're assertion that this happens whenever Neptune makes a hard aspect to a thoroughly speculative and debateable US astrology chart is frankly, absurd.

StarIQ had fascinating and comprehensive article on "Tecumseh's curse" at:

http://www.stariq.com/Main/Articles/P0005478.HTM

Perhaps there was/is a genuine "curse" in operation which flies under the radar of western astrology.

This article seems to imply that director Oliver Stone and the writters of the fim Alexander fictionalized the bisexual tendencies of Alexander the Great. This is very wrong. He was bisexual and did have a life long relationship with Hyphaestion, the male character he has a relationship with in the movie. This was not uncommon in Greece at this time. In fact, it was very very common, common to the point that it was an integral part of their culture. They believed women were worthless except to breed with to pro-create and for political alliances. So, for love, they engaged in homosexual relationships. They married women for children, and fell in love with other men. Other men were the only other who were equal to them.
Unfortunately, the US has a big problem with homosexuality, and this movie is getting bad reviews for it. But it is an excellent movie, partly because of the homosexuality in it. It is actually a beautiful love story. Personally, I don't understand why Americans get so hung up on homosexuality. Love is not physical, it transcends that, and occurs more on the soul level. So why does the orientation of the physical body matter so much? Deep love is love, regardless of your genitalia.

I find it significant that Chiron is in the 5th House of Scott's chart, and opposing his Mars. He would have had a tremendous amount of drive, due to the placements of Pluto (in the sign of Libra which rules his 11th house) and Mars (which is actually in the 11th house).

Friends, Hopes & Wishes. 11th House. The fact of children (Laci's pregnancy) would have been seen by him to be a handicap, interfering with his hopes and wishes and what he hoped to accomplish.

Scorpio. Often associated with murder, and ruling his 12th house, where Mercury operates behind the scenes. Neptune--the water and fishing 'cover story', opposing the 7th House (very cusp) of partnership (Laci), and the Moon (female). Perhaps the Gemini moon covering the two that died.

He must be really rich, with North Node AND Jupiter in the 2nd. But it looks like he's off to jail.

In case any of you are wondering what the black hole Galactic Center conjunct the progressed US Juno I've alluded to below signifies in a chart, this is from Alex Miller-Mignone, the noted space anomalies expert: "Black Holes promote pervasive and sweeping changes in the status quo reality, a black-is-white, up-is-down dimensional shift which leaves nothing unchanged with which it comes in contact, and which drains resources and energy, impels dramatic transformation, and dissolves existing conditions in the twinkling of an eye, to reconstitute reality in wholly altered and unrecognizable patterns."

I have been wondering for some time if the media are selling this idea - the statistical tie - hard and often in order to attract viewers to their increasingly self-serving broadcasts.

But I have also been reading evaluations of this election from several different writers, one of whom I mentioned in my recent FB to Ray Merriman. His name is Alex Miller Mignone. His predictions are based mostly on the Silby chart, which seems to favor a Kerry win.

In response to the statement made by "Dow" on August 3 2004 about my comments to Michael and to StarIQ:

I regret not seeing this comment on my post sooner or I would have immediately offered a response after Dow made his outrageous claim.

I have never known Jeff Jawer or anyone at StarIQ to be timid in expressing or supporting any kind of free speech. I think Dow's claim is absolutely and definitively false.

As far as the StarIQ staff being far left liberal, I honestly don't believe that to be the case, considering that two of their most popular columnists (Mike Wolfstar and Ray Merriman) have been predicting a win for GWB for months.

If Ray Merriman is a far-left leaning liberal, then I am a purple polka dotted pachyderm in Prozac.

Here are the actual guidelines for summitting feedback to StarIQ:

"Please limit your feedback to 250 words and sign with a valid email address. StarIQ will not print profanity or libelous statements."

In response to my inquiry about the FB forum of this column, Jeff Jawer sent me a lovely and very polite personal letter that allowed me to see that *I* had made an erroneous assumption about the feedback policy in this list. Later, I realized that a mere software glitch was all that kept my original statement from finding its way into this forum.

If you want to use someone as a foil to attack StarIQ or any of the people who contribute to this fine website, pick another ally.

You'll find nothing but praise for Jeff and all his writers and staff coming from me.

Coming 2004 elections won't be CLOSE
like everyone expects(the expected don't happen;last year when unexpected, elections were photo finish) Other point is OT superbowl
results occur, may once every 20 year
not every year, similarly we had close elections last time and close elections are like blue moons-once every 50 or 100 years, so don't expect close elections Nov 2004.

In response to Dow's comments: I have never changed anyone's feedback to make them look less intelligent.

StarIQ is not insecure about free speech. We do not claim to be politically neutral, but our purpose is astrological, and we try to avoid using astrology as political propaganda. Yes, we have our biases, but our respect for astrology comes first.

We don't feel obligated to publish all political points of view on our site. It's a big Internet, though, with many other places to express them.

In reference to "amylouise donnelly" comment - StarIQ is very insecure about free speech and opposing opinions. Your comment doesn't surprise me, as I've seen many moderate comments removed from this site simply because they were fair and were not far-left liberal leaning as the StarIQ editors are so wont to be.

Here's the guideline StarIQ seems to follow: If your comment is radical liberal, it will be welcome. If it is not, it will be treated as flame and deleted, or less often, shrugged off and ridiculed. I've even seen them delete portions of a message to make the writer look less intelligent. Apparently astrologers are to be indoctrinated in one view. Lauded "newage openmindedness" does not apply here.

Where you reviewed question of re"election" chances for GWB.
Your focus was to Pgrsd Venus-Jupiter forming a trine to US moon as foundation for concluding hes "in line to win" the 2nd term.

Could this still be your outlook?
Note the V-J conj (&not rch exact)
sits opposite his Midhvn. Plus a double SQ is formed by powerful Saturn trans over his NSat opp US Pluto. Several astrologers in Forums see the T-Pluto exact on GW-So.node. So very telling for loss of power,also opp his UR-[Nnode] AND prgsdMC.
Pointed to as well is US prgrsd moon conjoins N-Sun - one deg to GW Sun-CN..sq his LI planets
&p-Mars. Uranus [factor]too as it trines US Venus-Jup, opposes
very soon his N-Mars prgsd Sun.
Reversed circumstances outweigh any strengths or luck.

Recently, I offered a short statement to the FB page of NewsScope. I haven't seen it posted in the FB section yet so I'm assuming that you decided it doesn't meet a standard for inclusion in your page.

It's fine with me if you have a standard for feedback, but as a consistent reader of StarIQ from its beginnings, I'd like to see you post your guidelines so that all of us can learn about and follow them.

I ask this because I didn't know that you edit or in some cases deny the privilege of posting to some of the people who've sent email to this site. I read that in one of the FB posts, so that's how I know.

Thanks for your consistently readable articles, Michael, and thanks so much for your work on the Scorpionic America chart.

I've said before that I prefer to use this chart above all others when discussing the astrology of the USA. It just fits the actual character of (my) nation better, and allows for better forecasting of things like military actions and election results.

Thanks for reading this email.
Please feel free to re to me privately, Michael, if you don't choose to re in StarIQ.

Thanks for the heads-up about the daylight savings time in Baghdad. After I read your article I checked out the International Atlas (ACS Pub.), and sure enough, you were right. I had unthinkingly relied on my old version of Halloran's AstroDelux for Windows. No more of that in the future!

I fully agree with your 8 SCR Asc USA chart. I had once heard that Pluto transiting a nation's 1st House brings brings a crime wave, especially violent, and gang related crime. Check out http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/
homage.htm
Homicide Victimization Rate By Age, 1970-2002. Analysis of the graph for the dates that Pluto transited 8 SCR 23 & 4 SAG 10(2nd House Cusp for 2:20pm USA birth time, Regiomontanus) is enlightening. Graphic "scientific" evidence supportive of the 2:20pm is thus obtained.

Dave, thanks for your input on Athina. The article states her birth date as January 29, 1985 and is taken from the respected AstroDataBank. If you have information that states otherwise, please cite your source so we can make corrections.

I wonder if you've shared my bemusement at the obituaries of Ronald Reagan in describing his character: they are so purely descriptive of a textbook Aquarian they could have been written by Linda Goodman herself. Vis:

-A visionary, lover of humanity
-"Radar made of feathers" (in Goodman's immortal phrase)
-Never lost a friend, saw some good in everyone
-Great fan of children but ignored his own
-Nancy: "There was always some part of him you couldn't reach"
-Loved both people and solitude
-Fixed in his views and habits
-Would rather avoid confrontation, "fought with his hat"
-Perceived by some as the ultimate Flake, by others as a Redeemer
-Etc, etc.

Almost any commentary on his character was purely, utterly Aquarian and written by many, many people who undoubtedly hadn't a clue about such matters. Makes an amusing and highly verifiable statistical point, though, about Sun signs.

P.S. And did the Great Communicator do us one last favor by timing his death (so to speak) to assemble the world's leaders in Washington at this critical Venus transit time in world history? Hmmmmm.

Food for Thought-We've had only 3 great presidents in the 228 year history-Washington,Lincoln and FDR.
Interestingly, they're spaced at 72 years apart-Washington elected in 1789,Lincoln in 1861 and FDR in 1933
So the next greatest is going to be elcted in 2005(not bush by any imagination).So it is looming extremely large that Kerry is going to fulfil that position.Kerry does
have that Lincolnesque stature(tall,
thin, long faced but w/o beard etc)
But remeber,Lincoln and FDR when elected, no body knew, they were going to become great.Only after making great/right decisions during
their reign, they attained greatness
Kerry has those qualities to make
great/decisions to attain that immortality from 2005 -2013. WAtch out for the next great President Kerry!

Starmark, I appreciate that you’ve looked into the two candidates' charts, but besides listing a bunch of aspects, could you say how you interpret these? Why does Pluto opposite the U.S. Mars favor Kerry but not Bush? Why does GWB’s next “difficult” Solar Return act against him in the election? No one said it was going to be easy... I mean it may be clear to you, but you’re not persuading me unless you explain how these measurements favor one candidate over the other. Also, please read the NewsScope articles in the StarIQ archives about the importance of connections to the U.S. Moon before replying. The one on February 2, 2004 is a good overview.

Regarding Neptune's aspects to the U.S. MC, it's not yet in effect. The orb should be very tight, so this is not yet a factor.

Thank you for your very kind, prompt and detailed reply. I wholeheartedly agree with your statement that good astrological work demands objectivity, and ignoring the astrologer's wishful thinking when making predictions (which ia quite hard to do, for us, human beings). I've seen quite a few prominent astrologers in my country failing times and again, by trying to force their own personal views on their predictions, ignoring the astrological indications they didn't want to consider. As I am not an american resident I do not have a favorite candidate for US presidency, but still I am curious about the outcome of the coming elections. However, I must admit, that while inspecting the future progressions, transits, solar arcs, lunar and solar returns to Kerry's and Bush's charts, I couldn't ignore the amazingly clear indications in Kerry's favour. First of all, Solar arcs to both charts for the time around the expected date of elections, seem to give Mr. Kerry a huge advantage over Mr. Bush. The transits to both charts for that day seem to agree. Then there are the rather difficult indications that appear in GWB's next solar return and one of his following lunar returns. Add to these the fact that t Pluto is now on GWB's progressed IC tightly opposite his progressed Uranus conjunct Mc, to be hit by transit Sun on 6/11 ( Sun-Pluto oppsoition), just as t Saturn goes over his and the US Sun, and Pluto opposes the US Mars...
How about the fact that transit Neptune has recently stationed Rx., conjunct the IC of the "Rising Scorpio" US chart ?
In one of your essays you wrote:"Neptune's octile aspects to the MC coincide exactly with the 20 year cycle of a President dying in office."
What if GWB is not a candidate?

Michael,when Carol Righter, fames astrologer to the stars was still living in Hoollywood Hills, I was visiting his home many times with other students.We saw Nancy's and R.Reagan,s photographs along with Grace Kellys in his living room. He was his astrologer and close friend. We knew they were also his students at some time. He had Reagans asc. 5 Cancer,(1.49 pm)Mc Pisces,(show business). His rising cliks with Nancy,s Sun, Mars and Pluto in Cancer, etc..Curent Venus, conj. Sun on his progressed MC,pr. Sun. Sunny.

Starmark asks “where's the Lunar connection ? Did you mean his secondary progressed Venus-Jupiter conjunction and natal Mc, making soft aspects to the Aquarian US Moon ?”

Yes, that’s what I mean. For the past year I’ve periodically described how either a natal or progressed connection to the U.S. Moon is the mark of the successful presidential candidate. The link must be very tight, less than ½ degree, and often 1/4 degree makes the difference between the winner and the also-ran. Read NewsScope archives for more details, starting with a two month series called Presidential Astrology that began on June 30, 2003.

As an aside, I can tell you that I don’t feel particularly comfortable forecasting a Bush victory in November since I seem to be the only one saying this. It seems that most astrologers are quite liberal in their politics, and the prevailing view is that as transiting Saturn hits Bush’s Sun and then his Saturn, his “bad karma” will get him. My personal feeling is that when making political forecasts based on astrology, one’s own political views must be set aside in order to see what's actually happening instead of what one wants to happen.

Of course I could be wrong, but in my view, if political astrologers used the Scorpio Rising U.S. horoscope, they would see why George Bush is the man for the times. This is shown by the progressed U.S. Midheaven, which entered Aries just after the 9-11 incident. Bush has an Aries MC and his progressed Sun conjunct Mars identifies him as the militant Aries Commander-in-Chief. His progressed Venus and Jupiter to the U.S. Moon assures his popularity. Only transiting Saturn to his and the U.S. Sun could halt him, and it seems now that he’s compromised enough to get along with the international community, which is a prerequisite with the U.S. Sun in the ninth house of foreign affairs.

What "personal connections" does GWB's chart have to the US Moon ?
I know he has his Sun "intimately involved" with the US Sun ("Born on the 5th of July"), his Asc sitting on the US North Node, his own North Node and Uranus on US Mars (opposed by T Pluto right now) , his Mc square the US Mercury, his Mars tightly square the US Uranus, his Neptune exactly square the US Jupiter...but where's the Lunar conncetion ? Did you mean his secondary progressed Venus-Jupiter conjunction and natal Mc, making soft aspects to the Aquarian US Moon ?

BTW, Kerry has the same nodal axis as the US, with his natal Pluto on their common North Node. actually, his progressed Pluto is on GWB's Asc.

Just finished listening to archived May 24, 2004 StarTalkers. This hour had me surfing and brainstorming for confirmations of soul direction and I read your article on Branson. My birth data: July 20, 1949 @ 5:54 am-Detroit, Mi. USA If I keep plugging away with my web business is it possible to reach anywhere near his financial status so I might be able to help others on a more grander scale in their hopes and dreams? Love these informative articles. Ruth

Sonia Gandhi declined PMship because
of her 'inner voice' whatever that may be. But I won't be surprised if
she or someone in the family had consulted an astrologer(may be the inner voice was an astrologer).My question to Michael is the bad period in the coming months and July will affect her irrespective of whether she accepts to become PM or not, is it not?

Halford Mackinder saw Central Asia, Uzbekistan, etc., as the key "places" of world control. This was in the days Victorian England and the "Great Game" of Kipling. Today's reigning Superpower, America, finds her key "Heartland" places overrunning much the same areas with critical links to Teshkent, Uzbekhistan, and to many other places aligned along the 40th North latitude. Consider the terrorism crises in Madrid, Spain that provoked her recent pullout of Najaf, the Iraqi powderkeg. Simultaneously, there was the secret Chinese/Korean Summit in Bejing, China, followed by a catastropic rail explosion in Ryongchon, North Korea. They are "all" in the 40 North Zone. Astro*Carto*Graphy R analysis of the U.S. birth moment shows the 40 North latitude to be a sensitive Paran for Americans. The 40th is part of a complex (NeoMackinder) relationship matrix to places around the Earth that ties together the 28th latitude (Tampa and the U.S. Central Command Headquarters) with 101 West longitude running through the U.S. "Heartland", a sweeping zone that embraces Bush's Crawford, Texas ranch. At the moment, the fortunes of the American War in Iraq seem to be focused in New York, infamous 9/11 stage, and the home of the United Nations. Mackinder never had a lens this clear.

April 27, 05:00pm, PDT Sacramento, CA.
What Bush believes is of paramount importance to us all. What those who surround and serve him believe is equally important. Perhaps we should be less concerned about his personal convictions, the "Messiah Complex" and more attentive to the power he exercises, those "geopolitical mindsets" that have influenced U.S. geopolitical policies around the Earth for almost a century. Specifically, I am refering here to a hundred-year-old mindset called the "Heartland Theory". This theory was first articulated in the early 20th century by the British geographer, Sir Halford John Mackinder. In a nutshell, the theory stated that the control of a place called the "Heartland" would give control of a "World-Island" and ultimately the whole Earth. Some version of the heartland theory has shaped the geopolitical thinking of many U.S. Administrations. A "NeoMackinder" theory can be see expressing around the Earth through astrological lens (A*C*G).

Though the article was entitled "Bush's Messiah Complex", the author did not provide any supporting information for Bush having a "Messiah" complex. The author only provided supporting information for Bush thinking he is performing morally correct action in Iraq. This is quite different from an actual "Messiah Complex", where a person suffering from it believes themself the sole God-chosen savior of mankind. The title placed an exaggerated slant on the entire article that could have been avoided had it been worded more accurately - though this was most likely done on purpose.

On this site, Bush has been variously accused of being a purposefully deceitful liar (with no regard for morals) to a war-bent religious fanatic (with overly exaggerated morals). However, there has never been any admission that he could be what a substantial number of Americans think he is: a sincere, rational person trying to do the right thing under the most difficult of circumstances. And, since the majority of Americans consider themselves Christian, they can relate to depending on Christian beliefs during challenging times. It's primarily "pro-spiritual" (read: anti-religious and hence, anti-Christian) motivated persons who want to frame Bush in an over-the-top religious fanatic way.

One of the places America watches closest in the world is North Korea. America's Moon (26 Aquarius 56') MH/ Mars (21 Gemini 22') ASC Paran runs along 40 North through North Korea. Today a catastropic event occurred there, in the zone, as the Paran was activated by the U.S. Mars return opposition to transiting Pluto. The Moon arrives there tomorrow. What's you take?

Get back to basics. Put up your antennae for the next few days. Watch America's A*C*G Mars zones and parans. The 40th North Latitude is one such paran (Moon MH/Mars ASC)Ridge did issue an alert. Be alert. Advise and consul.

THank you for your always thoughtful and insightful column. You probably will write more about "the rare Venus occultation of the Sun on June 8, 2004" as the time draws near, for which I will await with bated breath, but in the meantime will you please let me know what "occultation" means?

In response to Nicole's and Emma's letters below, a few things occur to me. First, I’m struck by the unbridled hostility in Emma’s letter. From what I can tell, she is upset by something I wrote in the March 23 column about Pluto’s transit to the U.S. Neptune. She doesn’t say exactly what she’s upset about, though I gather it’s something about the political attacks on Bush’s Medicare cost over-runs which she assumes come from the liberal side of the political spectrum.

Perhaps Emma is unaware that conservative Republicans are every bit as concerned and angry over the cost over-runs. For example, this lead from a March 19 story in USA Today:

“The Bush administration has angered Republicans and Democrats in Congress by withholding higher cost estimates during last year's debate on legislation overhauling Medicare. But Congress had plenty of warnings that its 10-year, $395 billion price tag was too low.”

I must tell you that I genuinely make every attempt to write NewsScope with no detectable political bias, while keeping it informative, educational, and entertaining. It may interest you to know the NewsScope is a syndicated column and is posted in each week at both conservative and liberal astrology sites. If the more conservative readers at this forum feel they are being mistreated, you may always read NewsScope at Linda Black’s site: http://www.astrologers-online.com/index.php

However, I should point out that StarIQ’s Jeff Jawer does by far the best job of presenting NewsScope. He calculates and adds in the accompanying horoscopes, finds relevant links and interesting graphics, and makes the occasional but necessary light edits. I credit Jeff for deleting unnecessarily hostile, knee-jerk feedback letters, and hope that readers will in general stick to the astrology of current events rather than venting their own political agenda.

Just a reminder with regard to Jupiter's current square to Pluto - Saddam Hussein's birthchart contains an exact Jupiter/Pluto opposition. I'm not sure about how this is reflected in the current situation, however, the US has decided to re-instate upper echelon Baathist army commanders to restore order. I'm sorry I can't paste a source here, I'm taking a quick break at work. I read it in one of the Yahoo news stories yesterday. This story reiterates the current Jupiter/Pluto theme.

StarIQ's purpose is astrological. I am a liberal, but it does not mean that every statement not supporting the Bush agenda requires StarIQ to publish a conservative rebuttal. There are innumerable outlets for the expression of those beliefs elsewhere. I don't spend my time railing against Fox News. I just don't watch it.

It's odd that Jeff would ask if alternative viewpoints are allowed in this country, when he does not allow alternative viewpoints on his own site. I had a friend who posted an intelligent, conservatively-angled comment here, and Jeff removed it because he disagreed with it. All readers should be warned that when they click "View Feedback" on StarIQ.com, it is really "View Censured Feedback". Jeff is creating an illusion that every intelligent person who visits his site thinks like a liberal like he does.

Heheheh, I laugh in your face StarIQ. This article (like so many of yours) is nothing more than cheap political pandering. And since when did Courtney Love become America's sweetheart? Now I really know you're off your rocker in Leftie Land.

Now that we've discovered 10th planet
Sedna, shouldn't we consider Sedna also for astrological analysis? One may reason that Sedna is too far away
and hence needs no consideration. But
is that right? In Vedic astrology, planets upto Saturn, besides Sun,Moon
Rahu and Ketu(two nodes) were only considered originally(Neptune,Uranus
and Pluto were ignored citing the same reason that they're too far away
to have extensive effects on us compared to the near ones-Mercury, Venus,Mars,Jupiter and Saturn.

The anonymous letter below asks how Bush escaped the Presidential Death cycle, and if there's any parallel historical situation. The 1876 election between Rutherford Hayes and Samuel Tilden bears some striking similarities to the 2000 election between Bush and Gore, however neither election occurred during the presidential Death Cycle.

And that was the point I was trying to make in this week's article on the Vice President. Perhaps I wasn't clear, so let me try again. The reason Bush "escaped" was because the cycle is not due until 2005 at the earliest. In my opinion, astrologers have been using the wrong rationale for this cycle, and thereby missed the timing.

I was wondering if the reason that G. W. Bush could have escaped the Presidential cycle could be attributed to the fact that he was not the *elected* president? Or, are there past cases to disprove that?

His birthtime is given here as 7:02h MWT. Taking into account wartime this is 13:02 GMT which corresponds to an AC of 5 Sag. Lois Rodden states a birthtime of 8:03 MWT which produces an AC of 16 Sag. would you be so kind as to state the source of the data given at this site? I would be very grateful indeed.

his natal Juno (representing his wife Hillary) is at 25LI47, and in November 1992 his progressed Mercury was at 25LI19.

From these examples, you can see that the orbs are ½ degree or smaller, and the natal or progressed planet is nearly always in an Air sign, which makes favorable trines or a conjunction with the US Moon. Nixon’s chart didn’t show the connection, and in general, the most recent nominees have had the strongest links, probably reflecting the rise of mass media and public opinion polls which speed up the feedback loop between a candidate’s self expression and how the people react.

First, I’m glad that Sunny agrees with the underlying concept proposed in my NewsScope column, namely, that to be elected the successful presidential candidate must have strong planetary connections to the U.S. Moon.

The main point I would like to make about nominees and the US Moon is that the orbs should be extremely tight, about ½ degree or less. A candidate’s arrival on the national scene is like an event, and astrologers forecast political events based on very tight orbs.

President Reagan’s Sun is at 16AQ31 which is a full two degrees from where the Moon was placed in the traditional Gemini Rising horoscope. Likewise John Edwards’ Sun is at 19GE18, one degree from your proposed US Moon. In contrast, look how the successful Presidents line up with the Moon at 25AQ28, which is according to the Scorpio Rising horoscope.

Michael your article on the Moon remindet me on my astro classes in LA's First Temple of Astrology,Moundain teacher Sabrina. Sometimes she would compare 2 charts very nicely and than at the end would say, wow, I had the wrong chart. It is amazing how we astrologers many times read the wrong chart and make it sound authantic.I do not sujest I am right, but I want to tell
you that pr.Reagan's Sun was conj. US Moon 18 Aquarius and Senator's Edwards Sun 18 Gemini tr.also US Moon.I could go with more names but this will do. Best regards. Sunny.

UN sanctions were containing Saddam Hussein for years. The only urgency for the Bush administration was to get Halliburton and Enron out of the headlines and to pursue the militarist neo-con agenda. If compassion was the motivation, why is there no urgency about the millions of children starving to death on this planet every day? 9-11 was primarily perpetrated by Saudis led from Afghanistan. What's the connection with Iraq?

The WMD were NOT the primary justification for going to war. The Bush Adminsitration took great pains to show the inspectors were being denied, the world deceived, planes were being shot at, and 9-11 showed the dangerous instability of the Middle East region had reached North America.

President Bush specifically stated we should NOT WAIT until there was imminent danger. Indeed it was the opposition that held that the presence of WMD would lead to great blood shed if there were military action.

President Bush specifically cited 'pre emption', and NOT giving Saddam Hussein more time to develop WMD. Remember Iraq had already used them on Iran and the people of Iraq.

Legal, humanitarian, and military strategic necessity of eliminating this dangerous man all converged and were in fact overdue.

In this Mr. Bush was showing the protectiveness of his sign and the necessity of facing facts that Saturn imposes. As indeed the world needs to do.

The newspaper you are referring to is an Indian publication so perhaps it may not be as accurate on issues related to Pakistan as it is on issues related to India. My understanding is that there was a 24hr difference in the 2 birthdays with Pakistan's being a day in advance.

Unfortunately, I don't know of any publications to refer you to. In case I come across any in the future, I will post the relevant info here.

The anonymous reader may be correct. Two birth times can be used, the transfer of power on the morning of the 14th, and the official birth time at midnight Aug 14-15. The explanation is provided below from the August 1947 issue of the Itihaas Times (see http://www.itihaas.com/independent/15aug47times.html):

Pakistan is born

Karachi, Aug 14, 1947
Pakistan will be officially born at midnight tonight, but the transfer of power took place this morning when the Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, conveyed the King's greetings to the new dominion at a quiet ceremony in the Constituent Assembly.

Lord Mountbatten added, "Tomorrow, two new Sovereign States will take their place in the Commonwealth. The birth of Pakistan is an event in history."

So, if the anonymous reader can provide an approximate time of this transfer of power, the astrologer can set up a national horoscope for Pakistan and compare Pakistan's historical record to the two charts, ie, the official midnight version, and the morning transfer of power. Then we can see which national horoscope for Pakistan works best.

Regarding Pakistan's horoscope, this chart is based on my own research and dovetails precisely with what Nicholas Campion found, and which is published in his "Book of World Horoscopes". The date and time for India and Pakistan are precisely the same, which is 12:00 am August 15, 1947. The two charts differ in their location which is set for the respective capitols of each nation, namely New Delhi and Karachi.

In general, these kinds of questions can be easily resolved by "googling" the subject matter. Go to www.google.com and enter the search terms, and you may verify the correct independence dates and times.

I am curious about your source for Vajpayee's birth data. My research suggests that he was born in Bateshwar (a small town near Agra), and moved to Gwalior in 1935 when his father got a teaching post there. The distance is not great, but does make me wonder about the accuracy of the time. I've seen at least one other time (5:10 a.m.) at Vedic sites.